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The fifth installment of the Bound for Glory chronology was first announced in late 2008, when TNA released their PPV event schedule for February to October 2009.[5] On the list, Bound for Glory was scheduled to take place on October 18.[5] The location for Bound for Glory was first announced during a promotional video package which aired during TNA's anniversary PPV event Slammiversary on June 21, 2009, stating that it would be held in Los Angeles, California.[6] Later that evening, TNA issued their first public written statement regarding the event via a press release announcing that Bound for Glory would be held at the Bren Events Center located on the University of California at Irvine campus in Irvine, California; contradicting their earlier promotional video package proclaiming it would be held in Los Angeles.[7] Tickets for the event went on sale August 1, 2009.[7] On August 23, 2009, TNA published an article on their official site giving a first look at the Bound for Glory 2009 poster, which featured Sting, an updated Bound for Glory logo, advertising for the event, and the tagline "The Final Curtain?".[8] In August 2009, the official site for the fifth incarnation was opened at BoundforGlory5.com; Crawl Back In, a single by the rock bandDead by Sunrise to be featured on their debut album Out of Ashes was announced as the official theme song of the event on the site.[9]

The primary match featured was between A.J. Styles and Sting, wrestling for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. In August 2009 on the television show TNA Impact!, during a depressing period for Styles over his setbacks that year, Sting delivered a motivational speech to Styles that ceased him from retiring from professional wrestling. Wanting Styles to be the guy that carried the torch after him, Sting told Styles to get his head in the game and "claim what's supposed to be, yours!". Going on to earn his opportunity at the World Title the next week, on September 20 at No Surrender the next month, Styles faced off against Kurt Angle, Matt Morgan, Hernandez (who was cashing in his Feast or Fired briefcase he earned at the December Final Resolution 2008 PPV) and Sting in a five-way match for the title. On that night, Styles moved in for the victory when Sting stepped aside, allowing him to capture his first reign under the TNA World Title belt, after which turned into a celebratory night. Shortly later in the week, Styles, showing his gratitude, rewarded Sting a shot at his title on October 18 at Bound for Glory, an event that would transpire in Sting's home state of California.

A predominant feud was Matt Morgan rivaling Kurt Angle. Beginning in April 2009, Matt Morgan, not a former world champion himself but noticed others who were invited to membership without those credentials, started campaigning to become a member of the villainous Main Event Mafia group, consisting of former world champions and headed by then-TNA World Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle. Angle hired Morgan as an assistant and constantly vowed that while Morgan carried out a few tasks, he would also be under consideration as a member. After given the run-around for far too long, it turned out that Angle's intentions were to use Morgan to keep his reign as world champion. Their friction continued to heat up for weeks, and on September 20 at No Surrender, Morgan competed in a five-way match with AJ Styles, Hernandez, Sting, and Kurt Angle, who he cost a world title loss, and as a result, turned into a fan favorite. Morgan soon revoked his interest in Main Event Mafia, continuing his feud with Angle.

Another feud was between Abyss and Mick Foley. On August 16 at Hard Justice, after Mick Foley lost to Kevin Nash to be dethroned of the TNA Legends Championship, Abyss saved Foley from a post-match attack involving a beat down with a barbed wirebat by Nash. Foley showed his appreciation by giving Abyss a gift in the form of one of his signature flannel shirts. On the September 16 episode of Impact!, Abyss helped fend off Nash from attacking Foley during a match, causing Foley the match by disqualification. The following week, when Foley teamed with Abyss to go up against Booker T and Scott Steiner for the TNA World Tag Team Championship, Foley turned on Abyss, becoming a heel and brutalizing Abyss with a barbed wire bat. Abyss demanded answers, declaring he had idolized Mick Foley and his barbaric ways that much of Foley's career epitomized, and was only trying to save him. Taking Abyss' help as an insult, Foley claimed that Abyss was a "carbon copy". After Abyss described himself as hardcore and that Foley "used to be", he challenged Foley to a Monster's Ball match at Bound for Glory.

^Martin, Adam (2009-06-21). "Slammiversary PPV Results - 6/21/09". WrestleView.com. Retrieved 2009-06-24. A promo airs announcing that Bound For Glory on October 18 will be held in Los Angeles.

^ ab"Bound For Glory: Coming To California". TNA Wrestling.com. 2009-06-21. Archived from the original on June 23, 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-24. Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling announced that “Bound For Glory 2009” would be held Sunday, October 18, at the Bren Events Center at University of California at Irvine in Irvine, California, live and exclusively on pay-per-view.